WO1998056999A1

WO1998056999A1 - Displaceable cabin with removable walls

Info

Publication number: WO1998056999A1
Application number: PCT/NL1998/000339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harmen Boomsma; Erik Roscam Abbing
Original assignee: GE Capital Modular Space BVBA
Current assignee: GE Capital Modular Space BVBA
Priority date: 1997-06-11
Filing date: 1998-06-11
Publication date: 1998-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1999-12-11
Also published as: NL1008629C2; EP0988428A1; AU8131898A

Abstract

The invention relates to a displaceable cabin (1) for forming a space with an adaptable function, comprising a floor construction (2), a roof construction (3), a frame connecting the floor construction (2) to the roof construction (3) and wall elements (6) fixed to the frame, wherein the wall elements (6) are each individually removable from the frame without damaging the remaining construction. Damage is prevented as a result of these measures, wherein the removability leads to a quick, simple conversion. According to a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the number of wall elements (6) can be removed toward the outside. This measure facilitates conversion since the wall elements (6) can be supplied and carried away from the outside. According to another preferred embodiment the removable wall elements (6) each comprise an inner panel and an outer panel at least on their edges and, after removal of the inner panel, the wall elements are removable toward the inside. This measure makes it possible to remove and arrange wallelements when the outside of the cabin (1) is not accessible.

Description

DISPLACEABLE CABIN WITH REMOVABLE WALLS

The invention relates to a displaceable cabin for forming a space with an adaptable function, comprising a floor construction, a roof construction, a frame connecting the floor construction to the roof construction and wall elements fixed to the frame.

Such cabins are generally known, for instance in the form of site huts, temporary offices, shops and the like.

Such cabins are usually used for only a limited time for a single purpose. To prevent hire companies having to hold excessively large stocks of all available cabin types, the cabins are usually converted at the end of a hire period and used for a different purpose.

According to said prior art, conversion takes place by breaking away wall parts and replacing by other wall parts which make the cabin suitable for the new use. This demolition of wall parts usually results in damage to the parts of the cabin which must be retained. Conversion moreover requires much labour and much skill. To avoid these disadvantages FR-A-821 883 provides a displaceable cabin for forming a space with an adaptable function, comprising a floor construction, a roof construction, a frame connecting the floor construction to the roof construction and wall elements fixed to the frame, wherein the wall elements are each individually removable from the frame without damaging the remaining construction, wherein at least the vertical parts of the frame adjoining removable wall elements are provided on their inner side with a face against which a face of the adjoining wall element rests, wherein a connection operable from the inside is provided, being adapted to urge the face of the wall element towards the face of the vertical frame part. This prior art leads to a cabin which can be converted easily, quickly and inexpensively for another use .

However the cabin described in this document does not provide for a full watertight closure of the cabin. It goes without saying that this is highly undesirable .

The effects of the permeability for water are worsened by the fact that after several conversions slight differences in tolerance develop. Also transport and often rough use lead to deviations in dimensions and thus to leaks .

The aim of the present invention is to provide such a cabin having better waterproof qualities, so that the walls and seams can not lead to water entering the cabin.

This aim is reached in that the faces are main sealing faces and that the connection extends through a boundary area between the vertical frame element and the removable wall element being different from the sealing faces. An example of such an urging connection is a severe connection.

The separation of the sealing function and the connecting function, leading to structural strength leads to a better effect of the sealing function; as its parts can be dimensioned fully to fullfill said sealing function. There is no chance that the parts needed for the connecting function, like bolts or screws disturb the sealing function. According to a first preferred embodiment the distances between the respective main sealing faces and the boundary area are chosen such that during urging the connection the sealing between the sealing faces becomes effective before the width of the boundary area is reduced to nill.

This embodiment is in particular effective if at least one of the sealing faces contain material which improves its effectiveness with progressing compression. According to another preferred embodiment the boundary area contains two opposite auxiliary sealing faces which, during urging, become effective only after the sealing faces have become effective. This feature leads to an even better protection against water.

A special embodiment provides in a cabin of the kind mentioned above wherein at least some of the removable wall elements comprise a thin walled sandwich construction filled with insulating material.

This embodiment with can be produced against lower costs as the sandwich panels with thin metal or plastic shells can be produced more cheaply than the panels to be discussed hereafter and which have advantages to be discussed hereafter. Under some circumstances the price outweighes said advantages.

According to another preferred embodiment the removable wall elements each comprise an inner panel and an outer panel at least on their edges and, after removal of the inner panel, the wall elements are removable toward the inside.

This feature makes it possible to remove and arrange wall elements when the outside of the cabin is not accessible. Such a situation occurs for instance when the cabin is placed with one side against a building. A particular situation occurs when two such cabins are placed against each other and the partition walls of the mutually abutting cabins must be removed. Such a measure makes it possible to transport the cabins in closed form and to remove the partition wall only after placing, so that the interior is not exposed to weather influences.

Other attractive embodiments are stated in the remaining sub-claims.

The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a partly broken-away perspective view of a cabin according to the invention; figure 2 shows a partly broken-away perspective view of a wall element for use in a cabin according to the present invention; figure 3 is a horizontal partly sectional view of a frame element of a cabin to which two wall elements are fixed; figure 4 is a perspective view of a frame element of the present invention together with a bracket, with which the floor construction is fixed against the frame element; figure 5 shows a sectional view of the connection of a wall element according to the present invention to a roof construction; figure 6 shows a vertical sectional view of floor constructions of two mutually adjacent cabins according to the invention; and figure 7 shows a view similar to figure 3 of a special embodiment of the invention.

Shown in figure 1 is a cabin 1 which is formed by a floor construction 2, a roof construction 3, which are connected at the corners by fixed corner posts 4 and which are connected in the wall surfaces by frame elements 5 and wall elements 6. As can be seen in figure 1, it is possible to use different types of wall element; thus used for instance are closed wall elements 6a, wall elements 6b provided with a window and wall elements 6c provided with a door.

As shown in figure 2, which depicts a closed wall element, each wall element 6 is formed by an outer panel 7, an inner panel 8, which are connected by two posts mutually joined by rails 10 and a bottom rail 11. Bottom rail 11 is connected to vertical posts by means of a releasable connection, for instance by means of screwed-in brackets 12. The space between the posts is filled with insulating material, for instance mineral wool 13.

Figure 3 shows how such wall elements 6 are fixed to the vertically extending frame elements 5. It is noted herein that in the present case the frame elements 5 are formed by aluminium profiles; it is possible to use other types of vertical frame element. The frame elements are provided with flanges 14 arranged on the outside which extend in the wall plane and which are suitable for making a screw connection 15 with the rails 10 of the wall element 6 mounted thereon. For this purpose the inner panel 8 leaves a strip of rail 10 clear. This drawing further shows that inner panel 8 is connected to rail 10 by means of a screw connection 16. Both screw connections 15,16 can be replaced by other types of releasable connection. It is however important that the connection urges the the

In order to make a good seal, use is made of strips 39 of sealing material to be arranged between flanges 14 and rail 10.

In order to conceal screw connections 15, 16 use is made of a profile 17 preferably manufactured from plastic which can be snapped into the vertical frame elements and extends on either side over the relevant screw connections. There is space in the snap profile for arranging electrical cables. It is also possible to arrange on the outside of the profile a surface-mounted outlet for fitting of for instance a wall socket, a switch, a thermostat or a telephone socket which is connected to the cables or wires in the profile.

The profile of frame element 5 is further shown in figure 4. This shows that a bracket 18 is fixed on the underside of the profile by means of a pop rivet connec- tion. The bracket is provided with recesses 33 through which a screw connection 34 can be arranged for connection to floor construction 2.

It is however also possible to omit the fixed connection between the vertical frame parts. The profile is then fixed on its underside by means of form-locking in the direction transversely of the edge.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the connection of a wall element 6 to the roof construction 3. This shows that on a beam 20 forming part of the roof construction is fixed a clamping bracket 21 into which fits the cavity 22 of the profile. Fixation of profile 5 on the top side hereby takes place. This figure also shows that between the top side of wall element 6 and the beam a sealing profile 23 is placed in order to prevent draught .

Also forming part of the roof construction is a ceiling panel 24 which is provided on its edge adjoining a wall with a locking profile 25 which is provided with a resilient tongue 26 and ensures a closure toward the wall element .

Below will be described how a wall element 6 can be removed toward the outside. For this purpose the snap profile 17 on the inside is first removed, whereafter screw connection 15 is accessible and can be released. Panel 6 can then be detached in its entirety in outward direction and optionally replaced by another panel. When the vertical frame element must also be removed, the panel 6 present on the other side must be removed in the same manner, whereafter the vertical frame element can be removed on its underside after possibly releasing a screw connection between bracket 18 and the floor construction. At the top the construction is only connected by the form-locking of its cavity 22 with clamping bracket 21.

When on the other hand a wall element 6 must be taken off toward the inside, for instance because the outside is not accessible, the profile 17 is likewise removed first and screw connections 16 are removed on both sides of the wall element, whereafter inner panel 8 can be taken off. The mineral wool insulation is subsequently removed from the lower compartment, whereafter brackets 12 are accessible, whereafter these can be released and bottom rail 11 can be removed. The connection between the vertical frame element and the bracket is then accessible and can optionally be released, whereafter vertical frame element 5 can be moved upward and, of course after detaching the other wall element, can be taken out toward the inside. After performing the same procedure on the other side of the wall element for removal, the relevant wall element can be taken off toward the inside. Arrangement of a new wall element from the inside will of course take place with the reverse procedure .

Figure 6 shows the floor constructions of two adjacent cabins. This shows that, when two such cabins are placed mutually adjacently, a groove remains in the floor between elements 27 forming part of floor constructions 2. This groove can be filled by an aluminium profile 28 which is provided at regular intervals on its underside with a leaf spring 29. Leaf spring 29 can be tensioned by a screw 30 which extends through the profile as well as through leaf spring 29, for which purpose a nut 31 is fixedly connected to spring 29. Spring 29 then engages under both noses 32 of profile pieces 27. This means that after profile 28 has been arranged it can be fixed and released from above and that after this arrangement a flat floor results which can for instance be covered with a floor covering.

Finally figure 7 shws a special embodiment of the invention wherein only some of the advantages of the invention are raeched. Instead of the embodiments described so far in this embodiment the wall panels 40 are formed by a sandwich construction wherein the shell 41 is closed and as a whole is made of thin material like metal plate or plastic. Just as in the other embodiments the cavity in said panels is filled with insulating material 42 like foam. Foam has the advantage obave mineral wool which, of course can also be used, that the foam adds some strength. It will however be clear that this wall panel 40 cannot be taken to pieces without being destructed, which is contrary to the other embodiments .

To allow for the properties of sheet metal flanges 43 are thicker. Thus in some cases the profile 22 should be made less deep to obtain the same thicknessof the walls.

Also the connections between the profile 22 and the wall panels 40 are made by screws 44. The screw heads are also covered by the profile 17. Of importance is that the flanges 43 contain faces sealing against the profile 22. Between these faces 45 and the correspoding faces of the profile 22 a strip of primairy sealing material 38 has been provided. The dimensioning of the ellements is such that when the screws 44 are thightened the faces 45 of the wall panels are urged against the faces of the profile leading to a good sealing against water. In this case, the sealing 38 becomes effective before the screws are fixed, or before the flanges 14 are reached by the shell 40. In case sealing strips 39 are present, these become effective after the sealing strips 38 have become effective. This feature also counts for the embodiment depicted in figure 3.

Claims

1. Displaceable cabin for forming a space with an adaptable function, comprising a floor construction, a roof construction, a frame connecting the floor construction to the roof construction and wall elements fixed to the frame, wherein the wall elements are each individually removable from the frame without damaging the remaining construction, wherein at least the vertical parts of the frame adjoining removable wall elements are provided on their inner side with a face against which a face of the adjoining wall element rests, wherein a connection operable from the inside is provided, being adapted to urge the face of the wall element towards the face of the vertical frame part, characterized in that the faces are main sealing faces and that the connection extends through an boundary area between the vertical frame element and the removable wall element being different from the sealing faces .

2. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the distances between the respective main sealing faces and the boundary area are chosen such that during urging the connection the sealing between the sealing faces becomes effective before the width of the boundary area is reduced to nill.

3. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the boundary area contains two opposite auxiliary sealing faces which, during urging, become effetive only after the sealing faces have become effective .

4. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that at least some of the removable wall elements comprise a thin walled sandwich construction filled with insulating material.

5. Displaceable cabin as claimed in any of the claims 1, 2 or 3 , characterized in that at least some of the removable wall elements comprise an inner panel and an outer panel at least on their edges and, after removal of the inner panel, the wall elements are removable toward the inside.

6. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the inner panel and the outer panel of the removable wall elements are separated on vertical edges by a post and that at least the inner panel is connected to the post by a connection releasable from inside, for instance a screw connection.

7. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the vertical frame parts adjoining a wall element removable toward the inside is connected to the floor and roof construction by means of a releasable connection.

8. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the releasable connection comprises at the bottom a form-locking between the floor construction, a bracket and the removable wall elements.

9. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the releasable connection comprises at the bottom a screw connection with a bracket fixed to the floor construction, which screw connection is accessible after removal of the inner panel of the wall element .

10. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9 , characterized in that the releasable connection of the vertical frame parts is only accessible after removal of a rail which extends on the underside between the inner panel and the outer panel and which is releasably connected only to the posts or the outer panel .

11. Displaceable cabin as claimed in any of the claims 4-10, characterized in that against the inside of the vertical frame parts can be fixed a profile which extends over the releasable connections between the flanges of the profile.

12. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the profile extends over the releasable connections between the inner panel and the outer panel .

13. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the profile is adapted to guide electricity cables .

14. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the profile is provided with an electrical element such as a wall socket, a switch, a telephone socket or a thermosta .

15. Displaceable cabin as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the cabins can be placed mutu- ally adjacently with parts removable toward the inside and wherein a groove remains between the floor of the mutually adjacent cabins, characterized in that the groove can be closed with a profile fixable from above.

16. Displaceable cabin as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the profile is fixable by means of leaf springs which are arranged at regular intervals and extend substantially in a plane perpendicularly of the longitudinal direction of the profile and which can be tightened by means of a screw connection extending through a profile.